Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Rule Bickerton was born July 12th 1893 at Felling, near Gateshead, County Durham. His father John Bickerton born 1858, native of Alnwick, Northumberland married at Gateshead in 1883, Violet Ann Winslow of Gateshead, born 1865 and with whom he had 5 children, William Rule was the third of their 4 surviving sons. John Snr was employed as a coal miner, during the early years of their marriage they lived at Holly Street, Heworth, later moving to Davidson Street. In 1891 John Snr was working as a shifter below ground at the colliery, his eldest son Thomas Victor (14) was employed as a cooper’s helper. Between 1901 and 1910 John Bickerton Snr died in his mid 40’s, his widow Violet Ann in 1911 was living at 37, Woodland Terrace, Felling supported by her sons who were still unmarried. They were all employed at the colliery, Thomas (24) as a rollway man, Francis (20) a putter, William (17) and John (14) were drivers, an upholsterer John Gardner (20) boarded at their home which supplemented the family income.
William Rule Bickerton enlisted during WW1 as did his youngest brother John Thompson Bickerton, they both served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. William Rule Bickerton as Able Seaman Tyneside Z2934 was assigned to the Royal Naval Division.
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at the outbreak of WW1 was formed from the Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists and volunteers who were not needed to serve at sea, an idea of Winston Churchill who at the time was First Lord of the Admiralty. They were formed into 8 battalions, Drake, Benbow, Hawke, Collingwood, Nelson, Howe, Hood and Anson.
William had been assigned to Hood Battalion which departed along with Howe and Anson to Egypt where they remained to resume training and particularly getting acclimatised which included field marches. May 27th 1915 they received orders they would be moving to the front, leaving Mundros for Cape Helles where they were assigned to dig trenches for the next three days and came under heavy shell fire. Hood remained on the Gallipoli peninsular until all three battalions were withdrawn to France, arriving at Marseilles 12th-13th May 1916. The battalions transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office as the 63rd Royal Naval Division July 19th 1916. They remained on the Western Front for the remainder of the war seeing action during the Battle of the Ancre 13th-16th November 1916.
Able Seaman TZ/2934 William Rule was killed on the first day of battle November 13th 1916 during the attack to capture the village of Beaumont-Hamel. After the withdrawal from the area of the Germans to the Hindenburg Line in the spring of 1917 the V Corps cleared the battlefield and created a number of small cemeteries of which Ancre British Cemetery was one. Able Seaman Bickerton was one of the original 517 burials in the cemetery mainly from the 63rd (Naval) and 36th Divisions. During the ensuing battles his grave was destroyed, his sacrifice is recorded on Special Memorial 18 within Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France and upon which his mother had inscribed, at a cost of 4 shillings 4 pence, the words, “Till We Meet Above”. Able Seaman Bickerton was 22 years old and single.
Violet Ann received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 37, Woodland Terrace, Felling Gateshead, County Durham.
His grief stricken mother 11 months later received the news of the loss of her youngest son, Able Seaman TZ/773 John Thompson Bickertonserving with Anson Battalion Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, killed September 7th 1917. He was 21 years old and single. Recipient of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Also on the R.N.V.R. medals list appears the name of Able Seaman TZ/2215 Francis Bickerton, this may well have been their elder brother.
Violet Ann Bickerton nee Winlow died aged 77 years, July 13th 1942, her eldest son Thomas Victor, December 3rd 1946, aged 59 years both at Felling Gateshead. Francis Bickerton died December 30th 1961 aged 70 years registered at Durham North Eastern.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Rule Bickerton is listed at Felling on F32.23 and at Windy Nook on W95.01 and W95.02
